Rock Mechanics Education in European Universities: A Comparative Review of Academic Programs and Trends

Summary

Abstract

Rock Mechanics represents a vital engineering discipline providing reliable tools to design tunnels, underground structures, slopes, dams, mines, and other facilities associated with the application of rock masses. Though necessary for civil, mining, and geotechnical engineering, the teaching of Rock Mechanics usually takes place within general engineering courses. This paper considers Rock Mechanics educational opportunities in 49 European states by studying the universities which teach Rock Mechanics or similar disciplines and analyzing their geographic distribution.

As a result, the prevalence of Rock Mechanics education was found to be closely linked with active practice of mining, tunneling, geotechnical engineering, and underground construction in particular countries. Rock Mechanics is mainly included in the programs of Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology, and Mining Engineering with special topics being taught mostly on an advanced level. Despite the existing demand for specialists in the field, it is still difficult to attract young engineers due to the necessity to increase awareness, educational availability, and university-industry cooperation.